Pearling has been an important industry in Broom for more than a century and it’s still going strong. Pearl luggers and their exploits are a fascinating topic for those interested in learning more about Broom history. In this article, we will take a closer look at pearling and the important role that it played in the development of this Western Australian region.
The History Of Pearling In Broome
To fully understand Broome’s history, we need to go back to the exploration and settlement that occurred in the late 19th century. The town was formally established in 1883, it was used mainly as a port for pearling and pastoral industries. Pearl luggers (sailing boats) would become a common sight and the demand for pearl shells to make mother-of-pearl ornaments, intricate buttons, and inlay furniture skyrocketed.
The first boats arrived in the 1870s, and at this time, Broome relied on skilled Japanese, Malaysian, and Keopangers (West Timorese) pearl divers. These divers had exceptional underwater skills and endurance, as pearl diving was a demanding and dangerous profession. These skills were essential to harvest the pearl shells and later the pearls too.
The Dangers Of Pearl Lugging
Pearl diving was a physically grueling task that required divers to plunge into the depths of the ocean without the aid of modern scuba equipment. Instead, they relied on traditional diving techniques, including using weighted belts to sink to the ocean floor.
Once there, they would collect pearl oysters, often at depths exceeding 30 meters, while holding their breath for extended periods. The divers’ ability to withstand the intense pressure and the inherent risks of encountering sharks and other marine dangers demonstrated their remarkable expertise.
But, the rewards far outweighed the risks, and pearl harvesting continued in this manner for years to come.
The free divers used special techniques to hold their breath during a free dive. A good diver could stay underwater for 2 minutes and work for up to 4 hours. Each day they gather pearls, seaweed, abalone, and other shellfish.
The Torres Strait divers would go 9-18 metres below the surface which was less risky. However, the rich Broome pearl beds lay on the ocean floor at depths of 36-45 metres. This made pearl diving far more dangerous.
At these extreme depths, divers who came up too fast would get the “bends” or “diver’s paralysis”. This occurs when nitrogen bubbles enter body tissues. The bends are incredibly painful and occasionally fatal and many divers suffered from rheumatism throughout their lives.
The pearl divers often suffered from oxygen deprivation because they stayed underwater for long periods. In this state, some even had hallucinations of sea monsters prowling the ocean floor.
The Boom And Lull Of Pearling In Broome History
In the earliest days of the 20th century, Broome supplied approximately 80% of the Mother of Pearl to the entire world. The prices reached record levels and Broome quickly became a cosmopolitan boom town. To feed this need, a new breed of divers that wore heavier diving equipment was needed.
The Pearl Luggers Heavier Diving Equipment
The new divers wore hard hat diving suits that weighed 12-14kg. These were paired with a lead waist belt and weights to keep the diver on the ocean floor. Divers wore metal boots and thick leather gloves and fully dressed they would weigh over 180 kg.
The pearling industry still used divers from a wide variety of cultures, including Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos, Ceylonese, Koepangers, and Malay divers. This mix of cultures can be seen in Broome today with the population, local architecture, and food choices.
With the advent of World War 1, the demand for pearls and Mother of Pearl diminished. The available labour pool was directed toward the war effort. Although the pearl industry still operated it didn’t have the manpower and resources required for fleet maintenance. These were dark days for the pearl industry and it mostly struggled on with government subsidies.
After World War 1 Pearl Prices Increased Again
At the conclusion of World War 1 and with the arrival of the roaring 20s, the pearl industry rapidly recovered. The prices of pearl shells soared and for decades business was good again. But, then World War 2 began and once again the pearl industry virtually ground to a complete standstill.
The Effect Of World War 2 On Pearling
The labour force was required for the supply of troops and to support the war effort. To compound problems, the Japanese pearl divers were interred in prisoner of war camps. One unforeseen consequence of the war was the destruction of the Japanese pearl lugger fleet and the collapse of the Japanese pearl industry.
At the conclusion of the war, this greatly benefited the Broome pearl industry which increased production to corner a greater share of the growing market. Once again, Broome was at the top of the pearl industry and the sky seemed like the limit.
Astute readers may have noticed a boom and bust pattern throughout this article and Broome history was soon affected by an unexpected discovery. In 1958, the Americans invented the plastic button and almost overnight pearl shells became worthless.
Plastic was easier to source, stronger, and cheaper to make into buttons. With no pressing need for Mother of Pearl, the pearl industry fell into disarray and things seemed bleak.
In what may be the greatest comeback of all time the pearling industry was completely transformed to become a success once again. This turnaround began in 1965 when Kokichi Mikimoto, a Japanese entrepreneur presented his findings to the Australian government.
Mr. Mikimoto is known as the father of the modern pearl industry because he created the first cultured pearl. He identified that Australian South Sea pearls reach maturity in only two years, instead of Japanese pearls which need four years.
The Áustralian pearls were double the size and they were in high demand. By the 70s Broome had become the supplier of 60-70% of cultured pearls for the entire world.
Broome Today:
If you go out to eat in Broome today or attend a fancy event, you are likely to see strings of pearls adorning the necks of women and some men too. Some astonishing strands of pearls are produced in this part of Western Australia and they are globally renowned for their size, colour, complexion, lustre, and uniform shape.
Since the 80s, the pearl industry has become highly regulated and the old wooden pearl luggers have been replaced with modern ships. The heavy diving suits are gone and modern industrial equipment is used to produce the largest and highest quality cultured pearls in the world.
Tours Are Available To Learn More About The Broome Pearl Luggers
To learn more about Broome’s history and the intertwined connection with the pearl industry visitors can take an organized tour. The entire pearling process from seeding oysters to the harvesting of pearls in the natural habitat is covered in detail.
Visitors can watch archive footage, examine rare diving equipment, and take a tour of a pearl lugger. The seeding process still follows the basic principles developed by Kokichi Mikimoto in Japan. Visitors can even observe a live pearl harvest and during a recent tour, the most valuable Australian cultured pearl ever found was harvested!